Sightseeing in Washington

So, I'm horribly behind in posting about the SNAG conference and my trip to Washington, but what else is new? I've been awful at blogging lately. Actually I'm behind on everything lately. This baby is sucking the life out of me...literally! She is due in two more weeks and I am hoping that I get some of my energy back then...but I know the next stage is extreme sleep deprivation, so you all will just have to stick it out with me! Sorry:/

Anyway, I went to Seattle a day early with some friends to do some sightseeing before the SNAG conference got started.We rented a car and drove through some really beautiful parts of Washington. We headed to the Olympic Peninsula and stopped at a beach along the way.As a desert girl not used to seeing big huge trees or logs, I was totally fascinated by all the wood on the beach!We also stopped and did a little nature walk through part of the Quinault Rain forest, which was amazing!

There was green everywhere!!I couldn't get over the furry trees. So weird!
This was a gorgeous lake somewhere along the way.And of course, we had to stop in Forks. HAD to.Its so strange to me when I go to places that get that much water. Phoenix averages about 8 inches of rain per year. Per YEAR. I'm such a desert girl!
Anyway, sightseeing was super fun and totally worth going a day early. I will post about the conference soon!

Trunk Show at the SNAG Conference in Seattle

I had a great time at the SNAG conference in Seattle! The trunk show was a huge success, I'm so glad I participated! Here are a couple of pictures (sorry I didn't get better ones!) of the event. It was so crowded, it was awesome! Anyway, I did really well for a 2 hour show and found great homes for some of my favorite pieces of jewelry. I get so attached to things that it makes me really happy when my work goes to good homes!

I also have a lot of jewelry left over which I will be posting in my etsy shop sometime in the next week so keep an eye out! Thanks to all who supported me at the trunk show, the love is much appreciated!Oh, and more posts from my Seattle trip coming soon as well:)

Trunk Show In Seattle!

So, I realize I've been terrible at updating this lately. And the reason for that is that I've been insanely busy...and that I have a ton of things to post! I just finished teaching for the session (I have the ENTIRE summer off) so I will have lots of time to redeem myself shortly and show you all what I have been up to. But, before I do that, I have to jet off to the SNAG conference in Seattle. While there I will be participating in the first ever SNAG trunk show. I hadn't actually intended on participating (because I knew I was too busy to make the inventory I would want to take) but someone had to drop out and I got asked to fill in. Soooo, I will be participating in the trunk show with some older pieces and a handful of new jewelry to sell. Lets hope I can make a ton of new work between now and Tuesday...(hahahaha).
I will try to post pics before I head out but I am not making any promises...

CS7

I just participated in another EtsyMetal Charm Swap. These are the charms I made (sterling silver, copper, freshwater pearls, etched, oxidized, riveted, fabricated). They are two sided so these pics show both front and back.

I can't wait to get my charms from the other participants in the mail! There are some pretty awesome ones. Head on over to the Etsymetal Blog if you want a sneak peek!

Hiding Places: Holding Memory Exhibition at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center

HidingPlaces 1 from John Michael on Vimeo.

I have work in an upcoming exhibition at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. The exhibition is entitled, "Hiding Places" and is work by artists all dealing in ideas of memory. My work will be included in the "Holding Memory" portion of the exhibition. See the above video for a sneak peek of some of the work in the show.
If you happen to be in the Sheboygan area while the show is up, be sure to check it out!

John Michael Kohler Art Center
608 New York Avenue
Sheboygan, WI 53081
P: 920.458.6144

Here is the info from the JMKAC website:

HIDING PLACES: MEMORY IN THE ARTS

June - December 2011

Memory is embedded in everything around us—in our culture, beliefs, possessions, relationships—it is a central component of human nature. Memory’s reach can be lifelong or fleeting. We define ourselves through memory, yet it can deceive us when we are least prepared. We continually search for new and inventive ways to keep memory alive: creating, preserving, and sharing memories through Internet databases, oral and written accounts, and visual records. All of this is in an attempt to keep memory out of the mind’s deep hiding places—to master time, hang on to things we no longer possess, and share recollections we hold dear. Many fear losing their memory, while others long to forget.

Hiding Places will draw on this complex and fascinating topic, breaking new ground in cross pollinated programming and engaging limitless audiences. The memory project will serve as a foundation for hosting intergenerational exchange, fostering new thinking about the aging process, finding new ways to apprehend and approach the Autism spectrum, examining the formation of personal and shared memories, and much more.

Because memory is a broad and inclusive topic, it is divided into four thematic components: From Memory, Holding Memory, Forget Memory, and Shared Memory. The exhibition and accompanying book will delve deeply into each of the four areas. Artists involved in other programming areas—Performing Arts, Connecting Communities, and Education—will dovetail with the four components in various ways. The profusely illustrated book will include original writings by the exhibition’s curators and prominent scholars with expertise in savant syndrome, age and community, American culture, and art history.

FROM Memory

Artists featured in this section call on their capacity to remember to make their art. They record the world with uncanny precision. Some are endowed with so-called photographic memory, while others feel compelled to explore the depths of memory without the aid of this particular mental facility. They share an impulse to catalog objects, people, and ideas in a visual manner, effectively releasing these thoughts from the mind so they may exist as external memory banks.

HOLDING Memory

Intangible memories are captured in tangible objects in this section of the project. Objects have long been recognized as containers of memory, vessels that manifest the timeless importance of commemorating life.

FORGET Memory

Personally touched by the effects of memory loss, a number of artists confront the topic of dementia. In innovative and precedent-setting ways, they seek to maintain a connection with loved ones who no longer remember. This section of the exhibition features just two artists, both of whom will create expansive, site-specific, and multifaceted installations that mirror the complexities of the mind itself.

SHARED Memory

Each of us recalls events large and small with great clarity: a first movie at the theater; the championship game won or lost; or the precise moment of a national tragedy. Whether these events are experienced with family, community, amongst cultural groups, or as an entire nation, our personal memories become interwoven with those of others, creating a variegated but converging terrain of shared memory. This section of the exhibition explores this powerful, shifting, and emotional territory.

Lucem Ferre

Just finished this new little blingy ring! Its made from sterling silver and an antique chandelier crystal. Measures about 3.5"x1"x.5". Thanks to my buddy Nathan for coming up with the title Lucem Ferre ‎which according to him means:

(Morning Star): the name of the morning appearance of venus (goddess of love), Also is the origin of name of Lucifer (showing the duality of such a cumbersome symbol of love). Also means 'light bearer' which is another way of saying chandelabre (candelbrum, candela etc.), WHICH is an origin of the word CHANDELIER!

He's such a smartypants.

500 Silver Jewelry Designs

Got my copy of the new "500 Silver Jewelry Designs" book in the mail the other day! It's loaded with some pretty awesome jewelry so be sure to check it out! I am so excited to be a part of this collection of contemporary silver work, I can't even tell you!
My piece in the book is:

Did I Mention...

That we found out we are having a girl?

Excited? Yes.
Scared? Absolutely:)
Here's a shot of my belly (almost 6 months pregnant!) at the Amococo Exhibit at Mesa Art Center. There's also a profile picture from an ultrasound we had done at 11 weeks (about 12 weeks ago).
The clock is ticking!!! Duedate is July 18th:)

EtsyMetal Charm Swap 6

A few months ago I participated in another charm swap with a group I belong to called Etsymetal. The charms I made are pictured above. The charm swaps are so fun and I love getting the charms in the mail! I kept waiting to post this thinking I would take pictures, but I realized that is never going to happen. So, I stole pics from other etsymetal members. Enjoy!Image from Victoria Takahashi aka experimetalAbove and below images are from Nina Gibson of NinaGibsonDesigns.You can get your very own bracelet of all the charms in this swap here.

Filigree

I just finished teaching an 8 week Filigree class at Mesa Art Center. Part of the fun of teaching is getting to make samples and play with techniques myself. Here are a few images of some samples I made to prepare for my class. I'm slowly listing these pieces in my etsy shop.

See the work my students created here.

LovetoKnow Jewelry Interview

I was recently interviewed by Adrienne Warber of LovetoKnow about my personal history, my work and process. If you are interested in reading the full interview, check it out here.

Want

All the charms in the Charmed Exhibition have been posted on the Society for Contemporary Crafts website. Make sure to check it out, you can view all the charms and shop online!

Oh, and if anybody out there wants to buy me a present, here are my favorites:
"Start Something" Charms by Becky McDonah'Iron-Clad, Polka-Dot, Heart-Charms by Tedd McDonah

Fin Charm by Angela Bubash
Cysts and Symmetries Charm by Vina Rust
Her Charming Smile Charm by Margaux Lange
Cast Crystals Charm by Sarah West

A few more classes this spring...

I'll be teaching a few more classes at phoenix center for the arts this spring, click on each one for details. Don't wait to register, these classes fill fast!
Findings and Finishing Touches
Marriage of Metals and Solder Inlay
Forming, Shaping, and Embossing (working with the hydraulic press)
Creative Entrapments

Charmed 2011

Finally finished my charms today for the Charmed Exhibition at the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh. The show opens Feb 10th, so if you are in the area be sure to check it out. If not, they will be listing all the charms online so you can view and shop from wherever you may be. More info coming soon, for now, here are my charms!

Charms all made with sterling silver, fine silver, antique chandelier crystals, pearls, and each about an inch in size.

The group, some viewed from the front, some from the back.

Charm #1 front above, back below.
Charm #2, front above, back below.

Charm #3, front above, back 2 below.


Charm #4, front 2 above, and back 2 below

Charm #5, front 2 above, back below